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Acton · United States

George Howell Coffee

Since 2004 · George Howell

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Overview

George Howell — sometimes called the godfather of U.S. specialty coffee — opened The Coffee Connection in Harvard Square in 1975, sold its 24 stores and the Frappuccino trademark to Starbucks in 1994, co-founded Cup of Excellence in 1999, then returned to roasting in 2004 with what is now George Howell Coffee in Acton, Massachusetts. He marked 50 years in the industry in February 2026 at age 81.

Known for

  • Co-founder of Cup of Excellence (1999) — the international farm-level competition and auction system
  • Founder of The Coffee Connection (1975) and inventor of the Frappuccino
  • First roaster in the world to freeze green coffee for year-round freshness control
  • Pioneer of U.S. light-roast specialty in the 1970s when dark roast dominated
  • First roaster to package green coffee in vacuum bags for long-term storage
  • Financed and introduced the ExtractMoJo refractometer system
  • SCAA Lifetime Achievement Award (1996)

Why it matters

Howell wrote two of the most consequential chapters of modern specialty coffee — first by building The Coffee Connection in the 1970s and 80s when there was no template, then by creating Cup of Excellence in 1999, which materially changed how high-quality coffee farms get discovered, paid, and connected to roasters worldwide. His Acton operation is where that 50-year arc continues: green-bean freezing, light roasting, and tasting-note-as-color-band labeling.

Production

head roaster
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roastery location
Acton, MA (312 School Street)
annual volume tonnes
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Café

This roaster operates a café.

Recognitions

  • SCAA Lifetime Achievement Award (1996)
  • Co-founder, Cup of Excellence (1999)
  • 50 years in the coffee industry (celebrated February 2026)

Sources

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